Handle clasp

ABSTRACT

The handle clasp includes a handle, a bag connection segment, and a head for clasping to the handle. The handle portion has a lone, unitary slot in the longitudinal direction of the clasp and another opening located at a terminating end of the lone, unitary slot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Improvements have been made to the device shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,622 and to the device shown and described in PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2003/013909. The teachings of such patent and of such application are incorporated herein by reference.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0002] A handle clasp for carrying grocery bags will decrease “cutting” sensations on the hand of the user, allow the user to more easily grasp several bags at once, and reduce tumbling and spillage of the bags during transport. The handle clasp includes a handle, a bag connection segment, and a head for clasping to the handle. The handle portion has a lone, unitary slot in the longitudinal direction of the clasp and another opening located at a terminating end of the lone, unitary slot.

[0003] Certain embodiments of this invention are not limited to any particular individual features disclosed, but include combinations of features distinguished from the prior art in their structures and functions. Features of the invention have been broadly described so that the detailed descriptions that follow may be better understood, and in order that the contributions of this invention to the arts may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects of the invention described below. These may be included in the subject matter of the claims to this invention. Those skilled in the art that have the benefit of this invention, its teachings, and suggestions will appreciate that the conceptions of this disclosure may be used as a creative basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out and practicing the present invention. The claims of this invention are to be read to include any legally equivalent devices or methods which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0004] The present invention recognizes, addresses and meets the previously-mentioned preferences or objectives in its various possible embodiments and equivalents thereof. To one of skill in this art who has the benefit of this invention's realizations, teachings, disclosures, and suggestions, other purposes and advantages will be appreciated from the following description and the accompanying drawings. The detail in the description is not intended to thwart this patent's object to claim this invention no matter how others may later disguise it by variations in form or additions of further improvements. These descriptions illustrate certain preferred embodiments and are not to be used to improperly limit the scope of the invention which may have other equally effective or legally equivalent embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an unconnected and extended handle clasp.

[0006]FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] Referring to FIG. 1, the handle clasp 10 generally has a body/handle portion 20, a neck (hanger segment for bags or other devices) 40 and a head 60. The body/handle portion 20 has a lone, unitary slit or a slot 21 (the use of the term “slot” herein for convenience is intended to refer to either a slit or a slot) in the longitudinal direction of the clasp 10. The slot 21 preferably terminates in a circular or rounded aperture or opening 14. Slot 21 defines a narrow gap of, for example, from one to six millimeters, although the width of the gap could be greater or smaller. The length of the gap is preferably slightly longer than the longest dimension of the head 60. It is critical for the width of the gap of slot 21 to be sufficient for insertion of the head 60 through the slot 21 and rounded aperture 14, and sufficient for clasping/retaining the head 60 through the slot 21 in the body/handle portion 20. Accordingly, such width is somewhat dependent upon the thickness of the handle clasp 10, whether on not the cross section of the handle clasp 10 is flat or curved (with, e.g., a thirty to fifty millimeter radius), the rigidity of the material used to make the handle clasp 10, the design weight of the bags/device to be toted with by the user via the handle clasp 10, and the size of the rounded aperture 14. For example, if the handle clasp 10 is made of a rigid material, then the slot 21 must be wide enough for insertion of the head 60 through the slot 21. Similarly, if the material is flexible, then the width of the gap in the slot 21 could be negligible. One type of material which may be used is a high density polyethylene known as EXXONMOBIL HDPE (HMA 016) made by ExxonMobil having a flexural modulus of 920 MPa and a tensile yield of twenty-three MPa. Different colors and transparencies of materials may be used. The rounded or circular aperture 14 is located toward an end of the clasp 10 opposite from the end where the head 60 is located. The rounded or circular aperture 14 provides pliability to the slot 21 for insertion of the head 60 through the slot 21, prevents tearing and, therefore, adds extra protection to the handle clasp 10 and to the user. The rounded or circular aperture 14 could be ovular, semi-circular, etc.

[0008] Referring to FIG. 2, the handle clasp 110 generally has a body/handle portion 120, a neck (hanger segment for bags or other devices) 140 and a head 160. The body/handle portion 120 has a slit or a slot 121 in the longitudinal direction of the clasp 110, and a transverse slot or opening 114. The transverse slot 114 preferably intersects the slot 121 at or near one end of the slot 121 proximate the midpoint of the transverse slot 114. Slot 121 and transverse slot 114 each define a narrow gap of, for example, from one to six millimeters, although the width of the gap could be greater or smaller. It is critical for the width of such gap to be sufficient for insertion of the head 160 through the slot 121 and/or transverse slot 114, and sufficient for clasping/retaining the head 160 through the slot 121 in the body/handle portion 120. The length of transverse slot 114 is less than the longest dimension of the head 160.

[0009] Preferably, the width of the rounded aperture 14 (and the length of transverse slot 114) is greater than the width of the neck 40 (or 140) but less than the longest dimension of head 60 or (160).

[0010] The gap defined by the slot 121 does not necessarily need to be the same as the gap defined by the transverse slot 114. The transverse slot 114 could have configurations other than as shown. It could, for example, be “U” or “V” shaped.

[0011] All exterior corners 17 and edges 12 may be rounded. An aperture 14 or transverse slot 114 could be placed proximate both ends of the respective slot 21 or 121.

[0012] Therefore, it is seen that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends set forth. Certain changes can be made in the subject matter without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention. It is realized that changes are possible within the scope of this invention and it is further intended that each element or step recited in any claims is to be understood as referring to all equivalent elements or steps. The claims are intended to cover the invention as broadly as legally possible in whatever form it may be utilized. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A clasp for connecting one or more devices, such as a plastic shopping bag to a user wherein the clasp has a handle portion, a neck integral with and adjoining the handle portion, and a head integral with and adjoining the neck, consisting of: the handle portion having a lone, unitary slot in the longitudinal direction of the clasp; and the handle portion further having another opening located at a terminating end of the lone, unitary slot.
 2. A clasp for connecting one or more devices, such as a plastic shopping bag to a user wherein the clasp has a handle portion, a neck integral with and adjoining the handle portion, and a head integral with and adjoining the neck, comprising: the handle portion having a lone, unitary slot in the longitudinal direction of the clasp; and the handle portion further having another opening located at a terminating end of the lone, unitary slot.
 3. The clasp according to claim 2, wherein the opening is a rounded aperture.
 4. The clasp according to claim 2, wherein the opening is a circular aperture.
 5. The clasp according to claim 2, wherein the opening is a transverse slot.
 6. The clasp according to claim 5, wherein the length of the transverse slot is less than a longest dimension of the head.
 7. The clasp according to claim 2, wherein the lone, unitary slot defines a gap having a width at least as large as a thickness of the head.
 8. The clasp according to claim 2, wherein the lone, unitary slot defines a gap at least as large as one millimeter in width.
 9. The clasp according to claim 2, wherein the lone, unitary slot plus the opening defines a gap having a length at least longer than a longest dimension of the head.
 10. The clasp according to claim 2, wherein the clasp is made of a material having a flexural modulus of about 920 MPa and a tensile yield of about twenty-three MPa.
 11. The clasp according to claim 2, wherein the clasp is made of EXXONMOBIL HDPE (HMA 016) polyethylene.
 12. The clasp according to claim 2, wherein the lone, unitary slot defines a gap from one to six millimeters in width.
 13. The clasp according to claim 2, wherein the clasp has rounded corners.
 14. The clasp according to claim 2, wherein the handle portion has rounded edges.
 15. A clasp for connecting one or more devices, such as a plastic shopping bag to a user wherein the clasp has a handle portion, a neck integral with and adjoining the handle portion, and a head integral with and adjoining the neck, comprising: the handle portion having a lone, unitary slot in the longitudinal direction of the clasp; the handle portion further having another opening located at a terminating end of the lone, unitary slot; wherein the lone, unitary slot defines a gap having a width at least as large as a thickness of the head; and wherein the lone, unitary slot plus the opening defines a gap having a length at least longer than a longest dimension of the head.
 16. The clasp according to claim 15, wherein the opening is a rounded aperture.
 17. The clasp according to claim 15, wherein the opening is a circular aperture.
 18. The clasp according to claim 15, wherein the opening is a transverse slot.
 19. The clasp according to claim 18, wherein the length of the transverse slot is less than a longest dimension of the head.
 20. The clasp according to claim 15, wherein the clasp is made of EXXONMOBIL HDPE (HMA 016) polyethylene. 